Composite oral cleaning apparatus

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a teeth cleaning apparatus which is a composite of oral cleaning implements. An elongated member has one pointed tip for cleaning between the teeth and a second end having a scoop shape for dislodging particulate matter from hard to reach places. The extended shaft portion of the device provides for supporting and handling of the scoop and point-end. Alternative embodiments of the present invention further provide a spool or cleat region cut into the elongated shaft. The spool or cleat section provides a region along the shaft suitable for wrapping and holding a supply of dental floss. The materials used in the proposed device are selected so as to minimize the amount of discomfort resulting from interacting with the gums and may be any color and optionally flavored.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning between teethand surrounding areas in the mouth. More particularly, the presentinvention relates to a composite tool for dislodging particles betweenteeth as well as from other areas in the mouth which accumulate food andother debris.

2. Art Background

Conventional toothpicks are well-known and are recognized as rigidpieces of wood or plastic sharpened to a point at one or both ends.Conventional toothpicks are used for cleaning out debris, specificallybetween teeth, by poking and wedging the toothpick point between theteeth so as to dislodge accumulated particulate matter. The pointed endsof conventional toothpicks are not particularly useful for cleaningother portions of the mouth such as the areas between the gums and cheekand behind the farthest teeth.

Conventional toothpicks suffer a number of disadvantages despite theirwide use and application. The pointed tip can be hazardous in thatcareless use may puncture a gum or cut inner portions of the mouth.Further, the use of a pointed tip often proves ineffective fordislodging food particles from the other hard to reach regions of themouth because the tip itself is hard to maneuver to an exact locationand is not effectively used as a scoop. Often, to clean portions of themouth other than between teeth, it is necessary to resort to a finger orother oral implement or rinse which may not always be convenient.

It would be a great advantage and, is therefore an object of the presentinvention, to provide an oral cleaning device which is suitable for bothcleaning between teeth and for other areas inside the mouth.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a composite devicefor cleaning between teeth and other areas of the mouth for whichconventional toothpicks are not suited.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a device whichmay be used for cleaning between teeth with less risk of gum damage uponinsertion than is available from conventional toothpicks.

It is further an object of the present invention to provide an apparatuswhich may be used for massaging gums in addition to providing cleaningfunctions.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide acomposite oral cleaning apparatus which includes a mechanism suitablefor holding and dispensing a supply of dental floss.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a cleaningimplement which provides the flexibility to access hard to reach placesso that they are more easily cleaned.

These and other objects of the present invention are provided in acomposite oral cleaning apparatus in which an elongated member has onepointed tip for cleaning between the teeth and a scoop-shaped end forscraping other mouth regions. The elongated shaft portion of the devicemay be more rigid than the scoop and/or point end to provide for greatersupport and handling. Alternative embodiments of the present inventionfurther provide either a cut-away spool section or a cleated region cutinto the elongated shaft. These sections provide a region along theshaft suitable for wrapping and holding a supply of dental floss. Thematerials used in the proposed device are selected so as to minimize theamount of discomfort resulting from interacting with the gums.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects of the present invention will be described withrespect to the following figures in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the oral cleaning apparatus inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3--3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4--4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 illustrates a portion of FIG. 2 showing an alternative embodimentof the oral cleaning apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 illustrating yet another alternativeembodiment of the oral cleaning apparatus in accordance with the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 illustrates another alternative embodiment of the oral cleaningapparatus in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates yet another alternative embodiment of the oralcleaning apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A composite apparatus is described which is useful for cleaning betweenteeth in the manner that conventional toothpicks are used. The teethcleaning portion of the present invention also serves as a useful toolfor massaging gums which strengthens them. An additional aspect of thepresent invention is the inclusion of an implement for cleaning areas ofthe mouth other than between teeth. These areas include the region ofthe mouth between the gums and cheeks where it is known that food canbecome lodged with no easy or "socially polite" method of removal.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-4 a first embodiment of the present inventionis illustrated along various axes. In this first embodiment, anelongated and tapered central shaft 1 having an elliptical cross-sectionis provided for supporting the various oral implements of the presentinvention. The elongated shaft 1 is molded of rigid but flexiblematerial such as plastic or rubber or other material having similarcharacteristics. The shaft 1, in addition to providing support for theoral cleaning tools also serves as a handle which the user of theapparatus holds for positioning and utilizing the invention. The lengthof the shaft is essentially arbitrary, needing only to be long enough tobe held for reaching into the mouth, but not so long as to beinconvenient to package or carry. In the first embodiment, it has beenfound that a length of approximately 2-21/2" satisfies theserequirements.

The first embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-4 has cleaningimplements at the two ends of the rigid shaft 1. At one end is the picktool 2 which in the first embodiment is the fully tapered end of theshaft 1. The pick tool 2 is used to clean between teeth in a mannersimilar to that employed when using a conventional toothpick. The usergrasps the rigid shaft 1 and positions the tip of pick tool 2 betweenthe desired teeth and gently inserts and retracts the tip until whateverparticulate matter present is dislodged. Because the tip of pick tool 2is the extended tapered end of the rigid shaft 1, it is more flexiblethan wooden toothpick ends and less likely to cause gum damage. Further,in addition to being useful for cleaning between teeth, the pick tool 2may be used for gentling massaging the gums of the user. The pick tool 2may optionally comprise a second, softer material and be affixed to therigid shaft 1 by bonding or other appropriate means.

At the opposite end of the rigid shaft 1 of the first embodiment of thepresent invention shown in FIGS. 1-4 is a second oral cleaningimplement, the "mouth scoop" 3. The scoop 3 has a rounded rectangularshape that is wider than the rigid shaft 1 at its widest point, buthaving approximately the same depth. The scoop 3 is made of the samemolded material of the shaft 1 but may optionally be a softer materialas described with reference to the pick tool 2 to further providecomfort when it is utilized inside the mouth. The scoop tool 3 has twosurfaces 4 and 5. In the first embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, thesurface 4 is concave and the surface 5 is slightly convex. The overallshape of the scoop 3 in the first embodiment thus resembles a spoon. Thescoop tool 3 is used to clean in those hard-to-reach places such asbetween the gums and cheeks where food is known to become lodged. Aswhen the pick tool 2 is used, the scoop tool 3 is used by the userholding the rigid shaft 1 and positioning the scoop tool 3 to theappropriate position and gently scraping to dislodge whateverparticulate matter is present.

Now referring to FIG. 5 a portion of an alternative embodiment oralcleaning device is illustrated. In this embodiment, the scoop tool 3 hasbeen replaced by scoop tool 13 having two surfaces 14 and 15. Scoop tool13 is different from scoop tool 3 in that both surfaces, 14 and 15, areconcave. The double-concave shape may provide better scooping action insome circumstance. FIG. 6 illustrates a scoop tool 23 in which onesurface 24 of the tool is concave, while the other surface 25 is flat.Again, the alternative scoop tools may be molded as a single device withthe rigid shaft 1, or optionally comprise a softer material and beaffixed to the shaft.

In addition to the cleaning tools described above, FIGS. 7 and 8illustrate the composite oral cleaning apparatus of the presentinvention incorporating still another useful mechanism. The additionalmechanism illustrated in both figures is for holding a supply of dentalfloss which may be used by the holder of the tool for cleaning betweenteeth and massaging the gums. In FIG. 7, the rigid shaft 1 is notchedaround its circumference such that the cut-away section 30 provides aspool around which a quantity of floss may be wrapped without increasingthe diameter of the shaft. The floss holding mechanism illustrated byFIG. 8 comprises a region dug into one edge of the rigid shaft 1 thusforming a cleat 32 around which a segment of dental floss may bewrapped, again, without increasing the overall size of the oral cleaningapparatus.

The composite cleaning device described herein may be manufactured inany number of colors. Further, flavoring may be added to the materialswhen the cleaning device is produced to further enhance the cleaningprocess.

While the present invention has been described in terms of variousembodiments, other embodiments will surely come to mind to those skilledin the art. For example, the various embodiments described have allincorporated a rigid shaft 1 as the support and holding mechanism forthe present invention. It may prove desirable in some cases to providethe shaft 1 with some flexibility for reaching otherwise unreachableregions inside the mouth. Such a flexible shaft could be manipulated bythe user by pressing a thumb against the shaft to bend it to the desiredangle. Further, it may be desirable for handling purposes to provide theshaft 1 with a more circular or rectangular cross-section instead of anelliptical one. Those skilled in the art may envision other alternativeswhich do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.The invention should, therefore, be measured in terms of the claimswhich follow.

I claim:
 1. A composite oral cleaning apparatus comprising:an elongated,substantially solid shaft having first and second ends; and recessedfloss holding means cut into said elongated shaft for securing a lengthof dental floss without increasing the diameter of said shaft when saiddental floss is wrapped around said recessed floss holding means, saidfloss holding means sized to accomodate multiple turns of floss whenwrapped therearound; said first end of said elongated shaft comprising apick cleaning means, said pick cleaning means having a pointed tip; saidsecond end of said elongated shaft comprising a scooping means, saidscooping means having first and second surfaces wherein at least one ofsaid surfaces is concave.
 2. The composite oral cleaning apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein said elongated shaft is rigid and tapers from saidsecond end to said first end.
 3. The composite oral cleaning apparatusof claim 2 wherein said elongated shaft has an elliptical cross section.4. The composite oral cleaning apparatus of claim 3 wherein said firstsurface of said scooping means is concave and said second surface ofsaid scooping means is convex.
 5. The composite oral cleaning apparatusof claim 3 wherein said first surface of said scooping means is concaveand said second surface of said scooping means is concave.
 6. Thecomposite oral cleaning apparatus of claim 3 wherein said first surfaceof said scooping means is concave and said second surface of saidscooping means is flat.
 7. The composite oral cleaning apparatus ofclaim 2 wherein said elongated shaft has a rectangular cross section. 8.The composite oral cleaning apparatus of claim 2 wherein said elongatedshaft has a circular cross section.
 9. The composite oral cleaningapparatus of claim 2 wherein said pick cleaning means and said scoopingmeans are composed of materials less rigid than said elongated shaft.10. The composite oral cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein saidrecessed floss holding means comprises a portion of said elongated shaftcut away to provide a spool around which floss may be wrapped.
 11. Thecomposite oral cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein said recessed flossholding means comprises a portion of said elongated shaft notched on oneedge to provide a cleat around which floss may be wrapped.
 12. Thecomposite oral cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein said shaftcomprises a flexible material so that it may be bent to facilitatereaching otherwise inaccessible recesses in the mouth.
 13. The compositeoral cleaning tool of claim 1 further comprising flavoring carried bysaid tool.
 14. A composite oral cleaning apparatus comprising anelongated substantially solid shaft having first and second ends, saidelongated shaft having an elliptical cross section and tapering fromsaid second end to said first end, said first end of said composite oralcleaning apparatus comprising a pointed tip for cleaning between teeth,said second end of said composite oral cleaning apparatus comprising ascooping means for cleaning other areas of the mouth, said scoopingmeans having first and second surfaces wherein said first surface isconcave and said second surface is convex, said elongated shaftincluding a recessed floss holding means for securing a length of dentalfloss; said floss holding means sized to accomodate multiple turns offloss when wrapped therearound.
 15. The composite oral cleaningapparatus of claim 14 wherein said recessed floss holding meanscomprises a portion of said elongated shaft cut away to provide a spoolaround which floss may be wrapped.
 16. The composite oral cleaningapparatus of claim 14 wherein said recessed floss holding meanscomprises a portion of said elongated shaft notched on one edge toprovide a cleat around which floss may be wrapped.